Case study: How Deutsche Bank works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices
Deutsche Bank was established in 1870 to support German companies abroad. Today, it is Germany’s leading bank, holding a strong presence across Europe and operating in 56 countries worldwide with a global network. Deutsche Bank aims to foster an environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, and well-governed world. Through its financial expertise and range of products, the bank seeks to facilitate a transition to more sustainable and climate-conscious business practices. It considers it its responsibility to support and, where possible, accelerate the ongoing transformation toward a more sustainable society and economy. Deutsche Bank is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and is, accordingly, working with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities. Tweet This!
This case study is based on the 2025 PRB Responsible Banking Progress Statement by Deutsche Bank prepared in relation to its implementation of the PRB, that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.
Which Principles for Responsible Banking have been addressed?
The Principles for Responsible Banking addressed in this case are:
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- Principle 3: Clients and Customers
- Principle 4: Stakeholders
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With this case study you will see:
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- How Deutsche Bank proceeded with stakeholder identification and consultation, and
- How Deutsche Bank worked with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities
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Stakeholder identification and consultation
Please describe which stakeholders (or groups/ types of stakeholders) you have identified, consulted, engaged, collaborated or partnered with for the purpose of implementing the Principles and improving your bank’s impacts. This should include a high-level overview of how your bank has identified relevant stakeholders, what issues were addressed/results achieved and how they fed into the action planning process.
Deutsche Bank places a high value on maintaining fair and transparent dialogue with its stakeholder groups. The bank aims to understand the expectations and concerns of stakeholders regarding its strategy, business operations, and social responsibilities, with the goal of identifying potential impacts, risks, and opportunities.
Key stakeholders include clients, employees, investors, regulators, and society at large. Each business division and support function is responsible for engaging with its specific stakeholder groups.
How did Deutsche Bank work with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities?
In its 2025 PRB Responsible Banking Progress Statement Deutsche Bank reports that it works with its clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices and enable sustainable economic activities as follows:
Deutsche Bank’s Code of Conduct forms the basis of the bank’s client-focused culture. This commitment to client centricity is outlined in the Code of Conduct and guides how the bank engages with clients across all business divisions.
As of December 31, 2025, Deutsche Bank operated through four main divisions: Corporate Bank, Investment Bank, Private Bank, and Asset Management. The bank offers products and services customized to meet the unique needs of various client groups, including offerings in sustainable finance and ESG investments.
UN Principles for Responsible Banking: Accelerating a positive global transition for people and the planet
With over 300 signatory banks representing almost half of the global banking industry, the Principles for Responsible Banking are the world’s foremost sustainable banking framework. Through these Principles, the banking community takes action to align core strategies, decision-making, lending and investment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement.
FBRH Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) Assurance:
First class PRB assurance services: The result of solid, hands-on ESG/ Sustainability experience
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- FBRH is a GRI Certified Training Partner (Global), ISEP Training Centre and a member of CPD.
- FBRH builds trust. Over 200 reviews from top professionals from around the world demonstrate our ability to build strong, trusting business relationships.
- FBRH possesses a unique skill set that combines ESG/sustainability certified training, experience in advisory services and report preparation, and ESG/sustainability report assurance.
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The combination of all the above empowers FBRH to provide first class Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) assurance services.
References:
This case study is based on published information by Deutsche Bank, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:
https://www.db.com/files/documents/csr/reports/PRB-Summary-Report-2025.pdf
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